Egyptcentral mediator between the Palestinians and Israel, announced this Saturday that it maintains international contacts to «contain the tense situation» and warned about the «serious repercussions» of a new escalation of violence.
«The Minister of Foreign Affairs continues to establish contacts to try to contain the tense situation between the Palestinian and Israeli parties,» said the ministry’s spokesman, Abu Zeid, in a statement.
The spokesperson specified that the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shukri, spoke in the last hours with the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrelland with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed.
«Egypt warns of the serious dangers of the current escalation between the Palestinian and Israeli parties and calls for maximum restraint to be exercised,» the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
«Egypt calls for exercising maximum restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to greater risks, warning of serious repercussions as a result of the escalation of violence, which would negatively affect the future of truce efforts.»added the North African country.
The spike in violence began with a massive rocket launch from various points in the Gaza Strip, which were claimed by the movement Hamasadded by incursions by several Palestinian militiamen into Israeli territory.
In response, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed today that the country «is at war» and assured that Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, will pay «an unprecedented price.» In this context, the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, declared a state of emergency in the country’s territoryaccording to the local newspaper Haaretz.
The position of the United States
USA condemned «unequivocally» the attack by «Hamas terrorists» against Israel, the White House reported in a statement.
«The United States unequivocally condemns the unjustified attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians,» National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said, adding that «There is never justification for terrorism».
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and they will remain in close contact, according to a statement. «We firmly support the government and people of Israel and we express our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,» Watson added.